UEFA is reportedly preparing to introduce another major tweak to its Champions League format just a year after debuting the controversial Swiss-style system; this time, aiming to reward consistency and league-stage dominance.
According to a report by ESPN, starting from the 2025/26 campaign, clubs that finish higher in the League Phase will gain a strategic advantage in the knockout rounds: the right to host the second leg at home.
This change comes after criticism during the ongoing 2024/25 season, where high-performing clubs were left frustrated by the open-draw system used in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Arsenal (3rd) and Barcelona (2nd) both had to play the decisive second legs of their semi-final ties away — ultimately losing out to Inter Milan (4th) and Paris Saint-Germain (15th), respectively, who enjoyed home advantage despite inferior League Phase finishes.
Under the current Swiss model, introduced for the 2024/25 season, 36 teams compete in a single league table, each facing eight different opponents. While the top eight teams are guaranteed to play the round of 16 second leg at home, the randomness of later draws has sparked concern about diminished reward for consistent performance.
UEFA’s Club Competitions Committee has already approved the proposed fix: from 2025/26, knockout-stage leg order will directly reflect League Phase standings, ensuring that higher-ranked teams host the potentially decisive second leg across all rounds.
The change is still awaiting final ratification by UEFA’s Executive Committee, but if confirmed, it marks a shift toward greater meritocracy — and could significantly influence how clubs approach the group stage.
The push for better league finishes won’t just be about seeding or qualification, but about securing meaningful leverage deeper in the tournament.
The report also hints at similar rule overhauls being explored for the Europa League and Europa Conference League, signaling UEFA’s intent to standardize competitive rewards and reinforce the value of long-term performance across all its major competitions.